[RP]Obake Blade

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn almost jumped at the sight of Toa appearing next to them, covered in mud. After the sudden reappearance of Kai, the ranger didn't expect any other of their companions to crop up again; obviously the pyromancer had pretensions to the contrary. "Toa," he greeted the bedraggled mage. "You okay? You look like you've gotten into a fight with a mud puddle."

[Writer]

The arrival of Kai had been startling enough, especially since he'd appeared directly next to Audra. In response, she'd lurched sharply away, grasping at weapons that had not been returned to her since the brief session with Kyo. But now, to have another come back to the group?

 

With a look that seemed a peculiar mix of amusement and disgust, Audra spoke for the first time since asking Kyo what blade they were seeking. "Just exactly how many 'stragglers' to this group are there?" she demanded, fixing a decidedly 'pissed off' glare at Toa. It wasn't that she knew him or anything... but for reasons none of the group would be able to fully understand, she didn't like him.

[Rexraptor2000]

“I'm the last,” Toa replied, letting out a laugh and brushing some crusted mud off his shoulder. He looked at Carwyn and replied “Course between mud puddles, creatures of the night, and bandits harassing me, I’d say that I’ve had my far share of being away from the group.”

 

He wasn’t blind as to the look Audra was giving him, so when Toa looked at her to say something, it was very unfortunate that at that moment he sneezed. A burst of fire suddenly erupted from him, lighting up the area above the table before dieing down and leaving Toa with a sheepish look. “And I’ve caught a fever, damn rain.”

[Writer]

((Joint post with FFWM))

 

 

Kyo watched the proceeding situation with silent observation, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noted Audra's rather cold look towards Toa. "Is everything alright, Audra?" he asked, his voice low.

 

Audra's eyes hadn't left Toa since he joined the group, but now she glanced at Kyo and turned her eyes to the table. "Sure," she muttered. "Why wouldn't it be?"

 

"You seemed a little..." he glanced from the girl to Toa and back again, "Tense."

 

Audra slowly raised her eyes to meet Kyo's. "Tense?" she echoed. Then, she scowled. "Well, perhaps I was... am." She shot another glare in Toa's direction, this one less veiled than the first.

 

He leaned slightly towards her, dropping his voice. "Can I speak with you a moment?" he murmured. "Alone?"

 

Audra hesitated for a moment, and then nodded abruptly, standing and pushing her chair out behind her, gesturing for Kyo to lead the way. He stood as well, spinning the chair he had been sitting on so that it could be faced back into the table. Turning, he motioned for her to follow him back towards the other side of the bar.

 

"What exactly is going on?" he asked, folding his arms over his chest as he turned to look back at her. "Do you know Toa?"

 

"Not personally, but I know his type," Audra answered cryptically. "And that is what I don't like."

 

His confused frown from earlier deepened. "'His type?'" he mimicked, "Pyromancers, you mean?"

 

"Sort of... well, not..." Audra sighed. "I don't know how to explain... it's... complicated."

 

He smiled faintly. "Sounds interesting," he said, "Try me."

 

Audra made a somewhat less amused face. "Picking through the drudgery of my past hardly seems 'interesting'," she replied dryly.

 

"I'm a scholar." he answered, "I've drudged through things that I'm sure are less interesting and far longer - I'm pretty sure I can handle your past."

 

The mysterious girl leaned forward with a curious smirk and asked, "You really wanna know about me?"

 

He stood straighter, dropping his hands to his sides, a slight eyebrow raised. "Yes," he said, "Actually, I do."

 

"Then call for Aya," Audra suggested calmly, sounding almost bored.

 

Once more, his eyes narrowed in confusion. "Aya?" he questioned, his green eyes turning from Audra to the table where the others sat a few feet away. "Why Aya?"

 

Audra's blue eyes sparkled with a strange mixture of emotion, not quite readable. "She's a Miko, and don't dare tell me you had no idea." She turned and pressed her back against the bar. "It's either that or... well, get both, actually... Aya and Takumi." She smiled faintly, as she was sure it would be next to impossible to connect the importance of Aya and Takumi both with Audra.

 

His eyes narrowed further. "Aya a miko?" he asked, "How did you come to that conclusion? And what does Aya or Takumi have to do with anything?"

 

"Aya to see deep," Audra replied, giggling softly, ignoring his first question. "And Takumi to tell a story, what else?"

 

The warrior watched her for several long moments before releasing a resignated sigh. "Very well." Looking over her shoulder, he called to the table. "Aya? Takumi?" he called, flagging them over with a hand.

[JasraLantill]

((OOC: JP w/Writer))

 

Aya squinted, her eyes fixed on the fizz on the top of her ale. Everyone at the table around her had ordered one, mainly because that was basically all there was to drink in the Pale Blue Troll.

 

She nudged Carwyn, who was sitting beside her. “Is that a bug?” she whispered quietly. “Or something… else.”

 

Before Carwyn had a chance to respond, Aya heard her name being called by Kyo.

 

“I’ll be right back,” she promised Carwyn, and she left the table to where Kyo and Audra were talking quietly in the corner. “What’s up?” she asked innocently.

 

Audra grinned. "Hey, Aya," she said cheerfully. "Got something to ask of you. It's fairly simple... no deep thought or anything like that involved..."

 

Aya gave Kyo a quick glance, and then shrugged. “Ok,” she said to Audra. “Shoot.”

 

"Hold out your hand, if you please," Audra instructed. "Press it to my forehead."

 

Again, an uncertain look at Kyo, and then a shrug. “Is this one of those ‘pull my finger’ kind of tricks?” she asked tentatively, though even as she asked, she pressed the flat of her palm to Audra’s brow.

 

Audra cringed at the physical contact, but she allowed it to continue. Slowly, whispers came to Aya's mind. Then, images. Then, the floodgates broke loose and Aya was overwhelmed by the images, and the screams. Abruptly, Audra pulled away, just as Aya was beginning to waver.

 

"She's not strong enough," Audra observed with a frown, resting a hand on Aya's back.

 

“Oh, what was that?!” Aya asked, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’ve got such a headache now!”

[Writer]

"Welcome to my world," Audra murmured. "All hellfire and headache city..." Then, she turned to Kyo. "Had I allowed her to continue, she'd be unconscious now... just so you know, I've got your friends' health in mind as well..."

 

She turned to Takumi, who had also come when called. "To the Bard, then... tell us a story, will you? I'm sure you've heard it. Tell us of the 'Downfall of the Twin Cities: Empire of Emerald and Jade'."

[Jae Onasi]

Takumi peered around the inside of the dull, dingy bar and decided immediately that the place needed help. More precisely, his help.

 

''I'll be back after I change into something appropriate for our fine host and these good townfolk," he announced to the small crowd. He leaned over to Carwyn and said in a low tone that only the ranger could hear, "Make sure my ale doesn't have any bugs in it, please. It's bad form to choke while performing, you know. And do make sure to have a bucket of water or sand by Toa. I've had too many brushes with burning buildings. I'd rather he not immolate us sneezing."

 

Carwyn lifted his eyebrows in surprise at the mention of burning buildings, then grinned. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me...."

 

Takumi trotted up to the cramped room that all the men shared. He pulled out his bag and lifted up outfits one by one. "Too boring...not clean...definitely too fancy for this place. They wouldn't know what to do with someone in court garb...ah, just right for this place, if a bit conservative for me."

 

The bard pulled on the bright emerald green tunic and trousers and decided against the matching cape as being a tad too flamboyant for these local folk. He paused to look at his lean frame in the cloudy mirror hanging on the back of the door, turning slowly and smoothing out wrinkles. Then he smiled brightly at the reflection. "Show time!"

 

As he walked down the stairs, he made just enough noise to attract attention. The patrons and nearly all his fellow party members looked up at him. Kyo and Audra were off to the side talking in hushed voices. He stood tall, but she was hunched a bit, her shoulders knotted tight. Her jaw was set and her furrowed brow belied her tension. She cast a furtive look at Toa when he sneezed a stream of flame, and her frown deepened. Toa makes her nervous.... Takumi glanced at Hedri, who squawked and ducked down into the backpack til only his eyes showed.

 

"Nice green socks, Takumi," grinned Carwyn.

 

The bard winked back. "They're clean, too." He looked at the greasy barkeep. "Would you have another mug of ale handy? Telling stories can be thirsty work."

 

"A bard you are, eh? We could use a mite of entertainin' t'night." He reached for one of the spotted glass mugs covered with a film of dust.

 

Takumi thrust his own mug at the man to keep him from pulling one out, and smiled brightly. "Oh, please use mine--I wouldn't dream of causing you the extra work of cleaning another mug." He heard Carwyn cough back a laugh. "Besides, it fits my hand just right."

 

"Is that the only thing that fits your hand just right?" Carwyn asked, his face schooled in innocence.

 

"Perhaps when you're old enough, I might teach you about some of those things," Takumi retorted.

 

"Harharhar!" the keep roared, and his local patrons joined in raucous laughter, helped in no small amount by the copious amounts of ale they'd already consumed. He pounded Takumi on the back and nearly knocked the bard over.

 

Takumi caught his drink just in time, spilling only a few drops. "I'm simply stunned by your enthusiasm."

 

The locals laughed louder. "It's a small town harr. We don't get sturreytellers often," the barkeeper explained.

 

"I'll try to give you something memorable, then."

 

Kyo motioned to Takumi, who walked over to join the leader and Audra. Aya had just joined them as well, but she held her forehead in obvious pain.

 

The bard laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "My dear, are you all right?"

 

"The miko will be fine as soon as the effects of our brief connection wears off," Audra said.

 

Takumi's lifted eyebrow was the only outward evidence of his surprise. Suddenly the connection with Bob made sense. But how did Audra know, much less make a mind-connection, unless.... He said in a hushed tone, "It might be wise to discuss this another time. Somehow I suspect our guests are not terribly comfortable with different magics." He tilted his head slightly at the locals, who in between swigs of ale watched the fire-sneezing Toa with a mix of suspicion and anxiety.

 

Kyo glanced at the patrons and nodded agreement. "We need to get Toa to someplace more flame-proof anyway." He shook his head. "Now would be a good time for a healer. But that's not why we called you over."

 

Audra said, "Tell us a story, Bard. I'm sure you've heard it. Tell the story of the Downfall of the Twin Cities: The Empire of Emerald and Jade."

 

Takumi searched Audra's eyes. "What an intriguing choice, my lady. Would you care to tell me why?"

 

The locals started banging their mugs on the table. "Sto-ree. Sto-ree. Sto-ree..."

 

Audra gave him a small, cryptic smile. "It will all become clear in due time, Bard. Your adoring fans await your telling this tale."

 

The banging on the tables grew louder. "Even this brand of adoration is better than none, I suppose." Takumi turned and gave the small crowd one of his winsome smiles. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I have received a special request for a story. It is a saga of good and evil, fire and ice, heroes and villians. Tonight I present for you the Tale of the Downfall of the Twin Cities: The Empire of Emerald and Jade."

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa took up a mug of ale that had been handed to him by a random patron, in preparation for the tale, and was about to take a sip when, again, he sneezed. The burst of flame went directly at into mug, turning all the liquid inside into a puff of pure steam that floated up to the ceiling. The mug itself was red-hot, and after receiving more than a few questionable looks, Toa decided that a drinking while sick wasn’t a good idea.

 

He leaned back a bit in the chair he had chosen at the groups table, getting comfortable for the tale that the bard was about to tell.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo's fist still hadn't released from when he had closed it when noticing Aya stagger beneath Audra's hand, though his shoulders were no longer tense. While he didn't quite expect any foul play from their new companion - anyone who bothered to follow the rules of swordsmanship probably wouldn't sink to such a back-handed level - but his suspicions weren't completely settled. He still couldn't help but watch Audra's every move - and when he saw Aya's facial expression turn, his first instinct was to attack. But no...it would appear that what had gone on was no true fault of Audra's - but that still didn't set him at ease.

 

"Aya, come here," he said, his green eyes on her as he held a hand out to the side of him. Perhaps he was being paranoid, perhaps he wasn't acting enough. Either way, he wasn't about to leave Aya too close to anyone he didn't trust, not at this point. When she drew near, he bent his head towards her and lowered his voice. "What did she do?" he asked, "What did you see?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya was reluctant to answer. "Stuff," she said vaguely. "Just...." She shrugged, then rubbed her crinkled forehead.

 

Kyo put a reassuring hand on her arm, and Aya met his eyes.

 

She shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think it was her fault," she whispered, looking askance at Audra, "that they all died." She paused for a moment, looking first down at the floor and then up at Kyo again. "It was like witnessing hellfire and damnation for a whole city."

 

She pressed her lips together thoughtfully. "I think...," she said slowly and only so Kyo could hear, "that it was sort of a premonition as well. What would happen to everything here, across the whole land, if we don't find the Obake blade."

[ForceFightWMe12]

His eyes hardened, his frown deepened. Exactly what had she seen? "'They'?" he asked, "Who are 'they'? And why would it be her fault that they died?" His confusion shone plainly - and he was getting a tad bit more frustrated by Audra's enigmatic past as each moment passed. There was a reason she had shown Aya...But the question was - what had she shown her? Her past? Their future? Was it a memory or premonition, explanation or warning?

 

And why had she called for Takumi? What could a bard's story have to do with her or her past? Or Toa, for that matter? Though he was a historian, Kyo was hardly one for tales told by often unreliable bards - and even though he had heard of the subject of this story, he was reluctant to believe that anything was meant by it or could be taken out of it.

[JasraLantill]

Aya shook her head. "I don't know," she said in a hushed whisper. "I saw people--men, women, children... just people. And fire. Lots of fire. And they... died. All of them. All the people, all the buildings... they were consumed by flame until they were... just... ash...." Aya's voice trailed off, and she took pause for a moment. "All except one."

 

She cautiously looked over her shoulder at Audra, and then gave Kyo a sheepish grin. "But I don't think it was her fault."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn pursed his lips as he leaned back in his chair and took stock of the situation. Ever since they'd left the monastery, things had gotten progressively weirder. He was disturbed by his sister's sudden attack on their group and their subsequent loss of Tellis, Takara and Katsuro. He wasn't sure what to make of the appearance of Audra and her impromptu joining and he was certainly taken aback by having both Kai and Toa rejoin their group. It was as if the gods could sense the balance in their groups being shifted and were responding by shuffling people back in. He shook his head and dismissed that thought.

 

Now Audra was being secretive and acting very oddly, speaking in hushed tones with Kyo at first, then beckoning Aya and Takumi over and speaking to them. Carwyn became a little concerned when Audra had placed her hand on Aya's head, but the young merchant seemed no worse for the wear. Kyo wouldn't have let Audra hurt Aya either, so Carwyn's concern was assuaged. Now Takumi seemed to be gearing up for a story at Audra's prompting, causing the ranger to wonder what exactly the strange girl had in mind.

 

He had his own strange girl to worry about, however. He had taken Chryseis straight to his room once they'd settled at the inn and bound her there, taking every precaution to make sure she didn't escape. He had also given her another dose of the sedating liquid he'd used on her to keep her unconscious, but he knew that it would wear off soon and he didn't really want to keep using it as too many doses would eventually harm her. And despite all the pain she'd caused, Chryseis was still his sister and to hurt her any more than he already had was something that he wasn't comfortable doing.

 

Throwing one last glance Aya and Kyo's way, Carwyn got up from his seat and quickly padded up the stairs.

[3yks]

Kai sat quietly sipping water. Not really paying attention to anyone.

 

(Sorry didn't have net for a few days, and now I'm off for a short vacation, I will post something better/longer when I return.)

[Writer]

When Audra had said it, the title of the story she'd requested from Takumi had not seemed to have any great effect on her. Instead, it was as if she felt a sort of amused indifference at the mention of the Empire and its downfall. But when Takumi announced it to his ever-growing audience, Audra flinched visibly. The color drained from her face and she turned toward the bar, hunching down a little further in her chair. For a moment, she seemed paralyzed by indecision, but then, she turned back to watch the Bard as he wound up for his telling of the story.

 

In all honesty, Audra was curious to learn of whatever embellishments had been added to the tale since she'd heard it told last. At the same time, she couldn't help but be more than a little uncomfortable with it. And so, as she caught Aya glancing in her direction, she turned away once more, pale at the revelation to come and the unwanted memories resurfacing.

 

Because there was one thing Audra was sure of: after Takumi's tale, Kyo would know, bright scholar that he was. And for reasons Audra could not pinpoint, that thought terrified her more than anything else she'd faced before.

[Jae Onasi]

Takumi took a quick sip of ale to wet his throat properly and looked at the small crowd. Someone must have run to tell the rest of the village that the inn had some special entertainment. The room had filled up with people, enough that some were left standing in the back.

 

He took a breath and smiled at the crowd. "She was born with a shock of blazing red hair, thanks to her father, and ice-blue eyes, just like her mother's. With her cream-colored skin and cheery smile, she was the joy of her parents; indeed, the joy of the entire tiny village. She was still just a tiny child when the plague swept through that village, killing everyone except her. The poor child was all alone, and would have been doomed to die. When soldiers came two days later, it was her pretty little smile shining through her tears that won the heart of one of those hardened warriors. The man picked her up and took care of her as they journeyed back north to the twin city-states. He knew he couldn't take care of her properly, being a soldier without a wife, so he did what he thought was best. He gave her over to the care of his liege, King Malitor.

 

"The king's daughter, Princess Elina, was about the same age and needed a playmate and servant. The king named the girl Aenya."

 

Takumi took a quick look around the audience. The locals hung on every word. His fellow party members listened carefully. Audra watched him, shoulders tense, eyes glittering hard. She knows this story...and it's personal for her.....

 

The bard continued with a flourish of his hand. "That was one of the few good things Malitor every did during his reign, for it is true that he had a black heart. He took what he wanted from his peasants, leaving them to die of starvation in the winters. He waged war with neighbors and arranged for assassinations. He abused his servants, beating those he didn't like, and having his way with the women and girls. No one dared defy him, or they were killed instantly. His penchant for evil and his unholy...appetites only grew with the years. A cloud of darkness lay heavy on the land during the years that the country groaned under the heavy burden of a king who thought only of himself.

 

"The Princess and Aenya grew and became more beautiful by the day. They were twin rays of sun in the dark kingdom, loved by everyone whose lives they touched. On the Princess' wedding day, the kingdom rejoiced and mourned at the same time. The Princess radiated happiness for it was a true love match to a man who cherished her. For that, they were happy. But it also meant she was leaving to live and rule as Queen in another kingdom, and the loss of her light would only make the kingdom a darker place for those left behind.

 

"The Princess knew that her leaving would make Malitor unhappy, and she urged Aenya to stay behind as a remembrance to the King of his daughter's love. Aenya agreed out of her love for the Princess, who was nearly a sister to her. Princess Elina presented the girl to the King, and then left with her new husband.

 

"King Malitor had other ideas, however. He took Aenya and beat her brutally, using her in ways no man should ever treat a woman. It was not many months before Aenya was heavy with his child, and even then that did not stop the abuse he heaped upon the beautiful woman, who reminded him that he no longer had his daughter nearby."

 

The bard stopped to take another sip of ale and gauge his audience. He saw the crowd becoming angry over the mistreatment of Aenya. He also saw Audra blanche and swallow hard.

 

"Aenya gave birth to a girl. She endured the abuse for the sake of her daughter, who would have been homeless if her mother died. However, her hatred was kindled the day the king first hurt her, and the fire of hatred burned deeper by the day. She endured the abuse until one hot, dry day in midsummer.

 

It had started as a very warm spring that turned into a hot summer. The sun was relentless that burned away any rainclouds before they could water the land to quench the drought that developed. It was that same hot, dry day, one of too many that summer, that the king turned his eye to Aenya's daughter, who was growing to be as beautiful she had once been. Aenya saw the leer he gave to the girl who was too young to understand what such looks meant. The burning coals of hate deep in her soul burst into flame as Aenya saw the king reach out to stroke the young girl's cheek. Aenya drew on a strength she never knew she had, and streams of those flames suddenly flared out from her hands, setting the king on fire. 'You'll never touch my daughter!' she screamed at the king, and spat fire on him. He fell to the ground, howling in agony. The room erupted into fire, and the entire palace followed. With the extreme dryness, it became a wildfire that engulfed the entire city, turning everything to ashes in mere minutes. No one could escape the flaming wrath as it burned away all the injustice suffered by Aenya. The king went to the hell that he so richly deserved.

 

"When the coals and embers had cooled enough for people to search for survivors, they found only burned husks. They found the king's body, but curiously, they never found the bodies of Aenya or her daughter. The blackened remnants of the twin-city state were left as a testament to the evil that was destroyed that day, never to be rebuilt.

 

To this day, no one knows what happened to Aenya or her daughter. Some say they died in the fire. Some say Aenya's pyromancy protected them both and they escaped to live in some distant part of these lands. I believe it is the latter." Takumi raised his mug and looked directly at Audra. "Long live Aenya and her daughter. May her flames of justice ever burn bright."

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa, though obviously disgusted with some aspects of the story as any moral person would be, smiled as the Bard closed the story with the destruction of the cities. Justice was a dish best served with flames and a touch of brandy. No, seriously, there's a Pyromantic dish called "Justice" that's a favorite among the Pyromancers of the West and is almost never seen outside there.

 

"Good on her," Toa said as he leaned forward onto his table, managing to keep back a sneeze that was actually building up this time. "Never been too fond of what I've heard of the North, with all the Hydromancers and... other stuff more common there."

 

The other suggestion that Toa had so hesitantly changed actually put a sick look on his face. Well, one might have assumed that until the sick Pyromancer sneezed a burst of flame so hot it literally burned a hole in the table. Toa looked at the hole, a bit stunned, and then embarrassed, looked up at those who had crowded in.

 

"Sorry."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo's flashing green eyes didn't leave Audra for a moment once the bard had started his tale...and as the woman had indicated that there was something about the tale specifically that she had wanted him - and the rest of their companions - to hear, it wasn't too difficult for him to discern the meaning behind the tale. Breaking his gaze from her for the first time since Takumi began to speak, his gaze flashed over to the table along with his other companions when Toa sneezed yet again.

 

"Perhaps we should put our own pyromancer to bed to recover, lest the same fate befall us." he said, humor in his voice - though it never quite reached his face. Allowing his hand to fall from Aya's shoulder, he turned towards the back of the tavern and, with little more words than that, began to make his way out into the back courtyard of the building - if it could be called that, in a town so small. As he went, he caught Audra's eye and made a smart motion with his chin, silently motioning for her to follow.

[Jae Onasi]

After hearing a story about a pyromancer burning an entire city-state to the ground in minutes, the inn's patrons were understandably nervous when Toa burned a hole through the entire thickness of the heavy wood table with a simple sneeze. Takumi was afraid the suddenly silent group would kick not only Toa but their entire party out of the inn, and the bard was rather enjoying the warm evening, the warm ale, and the coy glances from a particularly buxom serving girl who looked like she kept a lot of nights warm. He certainly did not want to be kicked out into the cold night that was threatening rain yet again.

 

As Kyo ushered the ill Toa out of the main room, Takumi decided to draw attention away from them as quickly as possible. "Who here knows 'Finnegan's Wake'?"

 

The crowd cheered its approval and banged mugs on the table.

 

"Well, then, sing with me, everyone!" He led the enthusiastic group through the song.

 

Tim Finnegan lived in Walkin Street,

A gentle Countryman mighty odd

He had a brogue both rich and sweet,

An' to rise in the world he carried a hod

You see he'd a sort of a tipplers way

but for the love for the liquor poor Tim was born

To help him on his way each day,

he'd a drop of the craythur every morn

 

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner

round the flure yer trotters shake

Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye,

we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

 

One morning Tim got rather full,

his head felt heavy which made him shake

Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull, and

they carried him home his corpse to wake

Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet,

and laid him out upon the bed

A bottle of whiskey at his feet

and a barrel of porter at his head

 

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner

round the flure yer trotters shake

Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye,

we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

 

His friends assembled at the wake,

and Widow Finnegan called for lunch

First she brought in tay and cake,

then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch

Biddy O'Brien began to cry,

"Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see,

Tim, auvreem! O, why did you die?",

"Will ye hould your gob?" said Paddy McGee

 

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner

round the flure yer trotters shake

Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye,

we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

 

Then Maggie O'Connor took up the cry,

"O Biddy" says she "you're wrong, I'm sure"

Biddy gave her a belt in the gob

and sent her sprawling on the floor

Then the war did soon engage,

t'was woman to woman and man to man

country law was all the rage

and a row and a ruction soon began

 

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner

round the flure yer trotters shake

Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye,

we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

 

Mickey Maloney ducked his head

when a bucket of whiskey flew at him

It missed, and falling on the bed,

the liquor scattered over Tim

Now the spirits new life gave the corpse, my joy!

Tim jumped like a warrior from the bed

Cryin will ye walup each girl and boy,

t'underin' Jaysus, do ye think I'm dead?"

 

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner

round the flure yer trotters shake

Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye,

we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake!

 

By the time he'd finished the song, the crowd was singing boisterously, slapping each other on the back, laughing, and drinking deeply. A few even managed to find enough space in the small inn to dance one of the local country-dances. The buxom serving girl took his mug and refilled it, then brought it back with a wink.

 

I think I'd call tonight a successful performance, Takumi thought, smiling.

[Writer]

((Joint post w/FFWM))

 

Audra caught Kyo's motion and its meaning, and slipped smoothly off her barstool to follow. She was several paces behind, though, and found Kyo as he was just turning to face her. Undaunted, she said evenly, "You wanted to know about me."

 

"I did." he said with a nod of his head. The cool air was fresh on his skin - and it was quite a relief from the stuffiness of the crowded room before. However, he was hardly distracted from his thoughts. "Though I can't say that I was expecting something quite like that."

 

Audra shot him a glare. "What did you think it would be? Some down-on-her-luck Northern girl left to steal for her needs? That no one would take her in?" She let out an exasperated sigh. But then, there was a change in her expression, and she whispered, "I-I didn't... it wasn't..."

 

He said nothing for several moments, simply taking her slight outburst with a quiet stare. He sighed after her voice drifted off, his arms falling to either side from where they were folded across his chest. "I understand that you didn't mean for it to happen." he said, his voice gentler than usual. "It's simply...a surprise, is all."

 

Audra's stony scowl returned. "Didn't mean it? What else was I supposed to do?" The scowl faded. "But I-I didn't..." She moaned. "All these years trying to forget it and..." Scowl. "That... thing was a poor excuse for a man, let alone a king. He needed to meet an Audra."

 

Kyo's face twisted into a frown, his eyes shining with confusion and worry. He took a few steps closer to her. "Audra? Are you alright?"

 

"Fine," the girl snapped abrutply. "We... I... fine, yes..." Her face twisted up in confusion. "Do I..." She paused. "I'm..." She suddenly looked as though she were about to collapse. Abruptly, she regained her stability and glared past Kyo. "I. Am. Fine," she stated firmly.

 

He saw that her eyes were distant - and he knew that she wasn't quite seeing him. Taking a few steps closer, he was suddenly regretful that he had said anything at all about her past. Was the grief of what she'd done the cause of her strange behavior now? "It's getting late," he said slowly, "Perhaps we should all head up to the rooms. We're going to be leaving early tomorrow."

 

The glare faded. In a low voice, barely audible, she murmured, "I worked so hard to forget the past, but the past would not be forgotten. The power wouldn't leave. Aenya remains. Audra grew stronger... the storm is not to be stopped..."

 

She flinched and then nodded slowly. "Early departure, yes." And with that, she moved past him and up to the room.

[Rexraptor2000]

(Joint post with Writer)

 

Toa was confused. Standing before the two rooms Kyo had paid for, it was only a matter of courtesy to question which one he should take and whether or not that was already occupied by the feminine part of the group. That would imply that none were taken and he could choose either one, but his increasing fever decided to leave this out of his grasp. Out of his grasp and just standing there looking puzzled, until Audra came up the stairs looking as stiff as a board. She glared spitefully at him upon notice, and would’ve walked straight past him had he not spoken up, jokingly/feverishly of course.

 

“See something you like?”

 

The Pyromancer wasn’t sure whether it was her eyes that popped out or her jaw that dropped to the ground. Either way, the result was the same. With another harsh glare, Audra pushed past him, muttering something under her breath. As she passed him, Toa’s ears barely managed to register she was speaking in some Northern language. Just as she was about to enter one of the rooms, she turned and faced him.

 

“You’re so far out of your mind that it’ll be a rough challenge for you to find your way back,” she told him bluntly. She reached over, opened the door to the other room, and gestured into it. “That’s your room. Don’t burn the place down in your sleep.”

 

And with that, she entered the newly determined girls’ room and slammed the door. Toa looked surprised for a moment, and then muttered something about her not being able to take a joke before heading into his own designated room. It had a few beds, enough to accommodate the men of the group, but that didn’t mean it was homey. The sheets were a bit ragged, and on his way in he could have sworn to he’d seen a rat dart across the room.

 

Toa chose the nearest bed as his, setting his pack down besides it, and taking the blanket off of the bed and shaking it. Dust shook instantly filled the air and coated everything, and unfortunately entered his nose. A second later he was holding the edges of what remained of the blanket, a helpless look on his face.

[ForceFightWMe12]

For several long minutes, Kyo hesitated outside, watching the door that he had seen Audra disappear into as if she would come popping right back out again - or else it would jump right off its hinges and attack. However, when it seemed that nothing else would be happening in the cool, dark night air, he adjusted his gauntlets under his shirt sleeves before moving to open the door again, proceeding back inside.

 

Striding to the bar, he asked for a simple mug of water. As he accepted it from the bar tender, he seemed to be completely oblivious to the tables filled with people, and even the table where his companions were sitting and waiting seemed completely invisible to him. He blew past them to one of the front windows, moving to lean against the side of the sill, staring out the window into the star-dotted sky as he sipped at the water, digesting all that had happened that night.

[JasraLantill]

Sitting at a table with Takumi, Maggie, and Kye, Aya watched as Kyo walked past them both to stare out the front window.

 

"Some group we have here," Aya said to everyone, sounding somewhat glum. "Kyo, brooding and thinking as he looks up at the stars, no doubt wondering about his destiny. Carwyn and his mysterious and unconscious assassin sister, bound up in his room so she doesn't hurt herself or others. Toa, ill with a cold, which for most people would be inconvenient and innocuous, but for him can have devastating complications and possibly burn the place down. And Audra, a pretty girl but with decidedly odd personality traits and the ability to give me headaches and visions of the absolute worst kind." She looked at Takumi. "Nice story, by the way. You described the event to a tee. Especially the aftermath."

 

She sighed, then took a sip of her ale. "I was thinking that we must be the 'normal' ones of our little group, but then again... we're on a quest for a weapon of mythical origins in an attempt to save the world from utter destruction by the Forces of Darkness." She looked at each of them in turn, then snorted and shook her head. "And I talk to my horse, for gods' sake. And what's worse? I swear he answers me back. That's not normal, is it?"

 

She looked at Kyo, then at the others in turn. "So, should one of us go and talk to him, or should we leave him be?"

[Quist]

Maggie sipped at her cup of water slowly, soothing her throat before answering her friend. "I think people such as Kyo should be left to be pensive, Aya," she said. "He does an awful lot of thinking for warrior, which is probably why he's such a good one. If he has something to say, I'm sure he'll let the rest of us know."

 

She took another sip, then set her cup down on the table and cast a small grin at Aya. "Then again, this is my first time out in the world on my own, so what would I know of how people think outside a monastery?"

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn pushed the heavy wooden door open slowly with his left hand, his right resting on the dagger handle at his belt. He knew he'd tied Chryseis up quite well, but he also knew what his sister was capable of, so he wasn't taking any chances. As the room came into view, he exhaled a small sigh of relief and closed the door behind him, snapping the latch shut.

 

Chryseis knelt bound to the thick oaken support pillar in the corner of the small inn room. Carwyn had made sure he trussed her up to the point where she couldn't move, taking away any opportunities for escape. Still, it's not that she hadn't tried; he could tell just by glancing at her brusied and raw wrists and ankles that she had certainly struggled in her bonds. It pained the ranger to do this to his own sibling, but he had his friends downstairs to think about and he was not going to let Chryseis harm them in anyway, especially not Aya.

 

The younger Stormchild looked up as her brother entered the room. She had a gag in her mouth to keep her from crying out, but her keen, angry eyes sought him out and bored him down as he approached and pulled up a chair. He took a seat in front of her and sat down slowly, straightening up and looking right into her face. She returned the gaze with one full of rage and contempt.

 

Carwyn sighed. "Hello, Chrys."

 

A muffled expletive, plainly obvious even through the gag.

 

"No, I didn't think you'd be cooperative," he mused, pulling off his gloves. "Guess we're going to have to do this the hard way, then."

 

Another defiant glare.

 

Sighing again, Carwyn reached into a pocket and extracted his locket, the scratches from Chrys still evident. "There are things I need to tell you," he started, stroking the locket slowly. "Things about Mom. Things I think you may yet play a part in."

 

For once, Chrys's eyes were not filled with vindictive fire, but surprised curiosity at her brother's statements. There was something in the way he said them that sparked her interest.

 

"There isn't much time to explain, and I have things I need to worry about other than you," he continued. "So I need to know whether or not you will cooperate with me or if I have to take you out of the picture completely." His words were soft, yet solemn.

 

The bound assassin's eyes retained their thoughtful quality, tempered by caution at Carwyn's query. After a few moments' deliberation, Chrys nodded shortly.

 

"Good." Carwyn sounded genuinely relieved as he reached over to remove the gag.

 

*****

 

A short while later, Carwyn came padding down the stairs again and back into the common room. At his heels, looking slightly worse for the wear, was his sister, Chryseis, unbound and moving under her own power. They approached the table where Carwyn's companions sat.